AUSTRALIANS' EXPLOITS.

Taihape Daily Times, 18 May 1918, Page 6

AUSTRALIANS' EXPLOITS.

jhbough the enemy’s lines. STAFF OFF!' to CAPTURED, W & * PONT, May 8. To-day was il; .. anivorsary of th© gecdnd battle c£ i-ilccourt. Australians were eng ’god in a heavy mmoi fight before Villcrj-Bretonneux, which resulted in such gallant achievements that they will add to the already splendid'tradition of the grand battalion, a portion of which made the attacking force. This small assault was mad© «arly this morning in conjunction with the French, side by side with whom our men have fought lately in many struggles which, will live

for ever in the history of both nations.

Half a mile south-east of the town is a monument, beyond which is a small chateau in a garden or small wood, A West Australian commander was in charge of operations, and portion of his own West and South Australian Battalion made the attack, which was exceedingly difficult to launch in the 'complete darkness. The troops—both Australian and French —were met at the outset by a perfect hurricane of machine-gun fire. A German officer who was captured states that over 150 machine-guns and 1200 men were holding a small sector which we attacked. Terrific fire swept across the French tod 'Australian flanks,- 'but, despite this, the South and. West Australians swept beyond the monument, beyond the wood, and beyond the chateau. They were now getting near to the German headquarters behind the line, and the first thing the enemy battalion staff in a cellar knew was that an Australian was standing on the steps throwing down a heavy bomb. One staff officer jumped behind a brick buttress; the bomb burst, and several officers and 29 men out of 35 that comprised the headquarters staff were taken prisoner.

Meanwhile, the troops ahead had pushed through over the second and third trenches in this bristling strongpoint to a German trench on the farther edge of the wood. Heavy fighting was going on on both flanks and behind. Bodies of Germans were seen moving up in a direction to cut them off. The troops were ordered to retire through the wood, whilst firing on the advancing Germans, One body of Germans were dispersed, and the Australians sent back a number of prisoners. Part of tho attacking tijoops were forced beak, while others were still holding one part of the position captured.

The Germans at the present moment are massing against these. Our guns have opened heavily upon a German counter-attack, but, even if unable to retain the position in the German line, thi£ feat of the South Australian "battalion in penetrating clean through the centre of the German position and bringing back staff officers and other prisoners through the midst of terrific lighting in an achievement of extraordinary gallantry. One German officer whom they captured had already been captured at Yimy, but has been re-taken by the German counter-attack He said: “You Australians have been deceiving us very cleverly # We knew you have many more divisions here than you pretend. You can't make me believe there are only five." Australians made this advance beside the French early this morning, near Meteren. Australians were not involved in the heavy fighting of April 29. That great attack came out against the French and British further north_ There seems little duobt that it was the heaviest repulse the Germans have met since the offensive started. After a heavy day's fighting, in which some 13 Gorman divisions were engaged, the British line had not given a foot, and the French had been driven only from one position of value, which was regained by counter-attack "Visiting the north to-day one found everywhere the men's spirits very cheerful, with the results of that battle. The Australians 'there had not been involved in heavy fighting since the first week of their arrivel in the north, but they were constantly bombarding and sniping the Germans.

The weather at the front is now splendid but even when living in the cold and rain during the recent fighting the spirits of the Australians have been splendid. One Australian division's snipers during a short period in the line shot 130 Germans during their ordinary occupation in trenches. It is claimed that this number only included those who were seen to fall by at least three observers.